OT excitement: Holt stands out as West edges East

DURHAM — Rick Holt was a man among boys Saturday afternoon in what projects to be the first of many games at Cowell Stadium for the incoming University of New Hampshire football recruit.

In a game dominated by defense the Portsmouth High School graduate controlled the line of scrimmage and walked away with the most valuable player trophy in the East’s 13-7, overtime loss in the second annual CHaD East-West New Hampshire High School All-Star Game.

“I knew (UNH) coach (Sean) McDonnell was here,” Holt said. “I wanted to leave it all out on the field and I think I did that to the best of my ability today.”

Holt finished with a team-high six solo tackles and assisted on five others. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive tackle had one sack for 17 yards and even pointed in the direction UNH coach Sean McDonnell during his celebration.

“He said if I sack the quarterback I can do the antics,” Holt said. “If I don’t probably not. I knew he was there so I overdid it a little bit. I apologize for that.”

McDonnell didn’t seem too upset afterward.

“You sack the quarterback you should be excited,” he said.

Holt, who played both ways for much of the second half, also blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt by the West as time expired to send the game into overtime.

“I shot the guard-tackle gap,” Holt said. “It actually hit me in the chest. I put my hands up and it hit me right in the chest.”

Holt disrupted pretty everything the West tried to do on offense, including the quarterbacks being able to take their normal drops.

“He was the best player on the football field, there’s no doubt in my mind,” said West coach Jim Schubert. “Whoever couldn’t see that doesn’t know anything about football.”

“He showed in camp from Day 1 that he was a quality player on both sides of the ball,” said East coach Bob Camirand. “He’s an impact player.”

The West scored on its first possession in OT. An 8-yard run around right end by Goffstown’s Connor Benjamin gave the West its second straight victory in the short series.

“It was a tough way to lose,” Holt said, “but I can’t hang my head. It was a fun game.”

The East had the ball first in overtime and looked poised to take its first lead but fumbled on the 1-yard line. It took the West two plays to get into the end zone for the winning score with Benjamin carrying both times.

“It’s never fun losing,” said Dover’s Eric Wilson, “but at this point you’ve just got to look at what the game is for and all the benefits that go to CHaD. It’s just a great cause.”

Wilson played on both sides of the ball, finishing with three solo tackles, including a sack, and two assisted stops.

Holt spearheaded a defensive effort that held the West to just 211 total yards with 47 coming on one play.

“He played well,” McDonnell said. “He ran to the football better than I thought he did on his high school tape. He played hard.”

The East gained 225 yards, including 102 on the ground on 25 carries by Ryan Monette of St. Thomas Aquinas. He finished with a game-high 162 all-purpose yards.

“It was really disappointing losing in OT,” Monette said, “but it really isn’t about the win or the loss. It’s really about raising the money and supporting the kids that really need it.”

Monette scored the East’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run with 10:48 remaining in regulation that tied the game at 7. Quarterback Sean Conroy of Pinkerton Academy set up the score with an 8-yard keeper to the 1.

Monette also caught one pass for 15 yards.

“I love getting the ball,” Monette said. “I ran for a hundred yards. These are the best players in New Hampshire. I had a great time with all the guys.”

The West’s first touchdown came on a 1-yard pass from Bedford’s James Caparell to high school teammate Brian Collins with 3:42 left in the first quarter.

That same combination hooked up on a 47-yard pass play that gave the West a first down at the East 13 and set up the TD.

“It was a fun experience playing with these guys who I’ve played against in the past,” Wilson said. “We started to form a bond and become a family a little bit. I’m a little sad that it’s over now.”